According to reports, Lionel Messi called Pep Guardiola a week ago and has selected Manchester City as his next club—but several logistical hurdles remain.
Pipe dreams of the past are coming ever closer to reality. Lionel Messi’s desire to leave Barcelona is real, confirmed by the club, and now, to take it a step further, Manchester City is the preferred destination of the greatest to ever play.
The ultimate culmination of City’s project would be signing Messi, and the club are reportedly in pole position to secure his signature. However, the key obstacle in doubt remains compensation. Barcelona appear unwilling to allow Messi to exercise his free transfer clause at the end of each season, making the most likely solution for the club to lower his £627 million release clause.
Messi may have chosen City, but given certain reports indicating that he could command a fee as high as £134 million, which is over double City’s club-record transfer fee. Given the club’s unwillingness to spend over their number in the past on players such as Virgil van Dijk, if that fee is to be believed, it is difficult to see City completing the move.
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Barcelona have indicated interest in both Eric García and Angeliño, who would need to be included at a higher valuation than their reported transfer fees to meet that number, assuming City will maintain a spending cap of roughly £60 million. The club still expect Messi to be available for free, but this could seriously complicate the operation.
I believe if it can be done at the right price that this move would be a landmark moment in club history. Messi is one of the players who made me fall in love with football, and bringing him to City would be a massive move both on and off the pitch that could take the club to a new level. Given City’s needs in defense, they must proceed carefully and get this deal done at the right number.